U.S. military donates medical supplies to support COVID-19 response across southern Philippines

 

US military personnel in civilian attires are seen unloading part of the Php6.9-million (US$138,600) hospital supplies they donated to hospitals across southern Philippines areas to support the COVID-19 response. (Photo courtesy of US Embassy)

ZAMBOANGA CITY / NOVEMBER 16, 2021 - - The U.S military have already donated and delivered over Php6.9-million (US$138,600) worth of hospital supplies since October in support to COVID-19 response in areas across southern Philippines, according to the US Embassy.

 

The donations, which includes intensive care unit (ICU) beds amd COVID-19 cold storage units, were conducted in seven separate small ceremonies and turnovers since October 2 to November 10 to hospitals in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, Cotabato City, Iligan City, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces.

 

The donations consisted of 13 cold storage units and 50 ICU beds, according to the US embassy in a statement.

 

According to the US Embassy, the most recent donation took place in the Zamboanga del Sur Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) in Pagadian City with representatives from the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) ‘ReachHealth’ project arranging the logistics, transportation, and turnover of six vaccine cold storage units capable of storing more than 120,000 vaccine doses.

 

“This equipment represents the United States’ continued support to the Philippines in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in geographically remote and isolated areas where it is difficult to procure and deliver supplies,” the US Embassy stated.

 

Maj. Scott Holub, Special Operations Task Force 511.2 commanding officer, said the Filipino and US have a long-standing tradition of helping each other in times of need. “From the liberation of Marawi to the battle against COVID-19, we will continue to support our oldest ally in Asia.”

 

Maj. Gen. Alfredo Rosario Jr., Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, expressed his gratitude to the US military ally for the donations provided for the remote hospitals under its area of operations, specifically in Cotabato, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

 

“The hospital beds and cold storage units for COVID-19 vaccines that you donated are vital components in our sustained battle against the COVID-19,” Rosario said.

 

The US Embassy stated that to date, the US government has provided more than Php1.9 billion ($39.2 million) to support the Philippines’ COVID-19 response. -###

U.S. military delivers advanced unmanned aerial system to PAF

 

Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim Heather Variava joins Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Admiral John Aquilino and representatives from the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines’ Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG) during the ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) turnover ceremony with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana and Philippine Air Force Commanding General Lt. Gen. Allen Paredes. (photo courtesy from US Embassy PIO).

Manila, October 14, 2021 – The U.S. military turned over four ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) worth Php20 million ($4 million) to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) during a ceremony at the Clark Air Base in Mabalacat City, Pampanga on Wednesday October 13. 

These platforms will provide additional capabilities in unmanned Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR), and in support of counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.

Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim (CDA) Heather Variava joined Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Admiral John Aquilino and representatives from the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines’ Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group (JUSMAG) during the turnover ceremony with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana and Philippine Air Force Commanding General Lt. Gen. Allen Paredes. 

CDA Variava and JUSMAG officials delivered the UAS systems to the PAF to increase the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) domain awareness and border security capabilities.

“We remain committed to our promises on helping modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and we hope this will further strengthen our combined capabilities in working together towards a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said CDA Variava.

The United States provides the AFP with grant assistance and expedited sales of arms and munitions to support its modernization goals and urgent maritime security, counterterrorism and humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief requirements.

The Philippines is by far the largest recipient of U.S. military assistance in the Indo-Pacific region.  Since 2015, the United States has delivered more than Php50.6 billion ($1.06 billion) worth of planes, ships, armored vehicles, small arms, and other military equipment to the Philippines, while training side-by-side with our Filipino allies. (PIO, US Embassy)

U.S. Provides 1.84 Million More Pfizer Vaccines to the Philippines

U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim Heather Variava joins National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. and other stakeholders at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to welcome the arrival of the October 10 shipment of 924,300 Pfizer vaccine doses. (courtesy of US Embassy PIO).

Manila, October 13, 2021 — The United States, in partnership with the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) facility, delivered an additional 1,842,750 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to the Philippines as part of its worldwide effort to help end COVID-19. 

The vaccines, delivered in two separate shipments to Manila on October 10 and 11, were part of the 500 million doses of Pfizer the United States is making available for distribution through COVAX, a global initiative to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. 

This follows last week’s delivery of 5.57 million doses of Pfizer vaccine to the Philippines. U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim (CDA) Heather Variava joined National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. and other stakeholders at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to welcome the arrival of the October 10 shipment of 924,300 doses. Another 918,450 doses were delivered on October 11.

“We’re really proud to be part of this effort here in the Philippines to vaccinate the Filipino people including teenagers and children so we can get them back to school,” CDA Variava said.

As the largest donor to the COVAX facility, the United States has facilitated the delivery of more than 24.3 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to the Philippines via COVAX, including more than 16.4 million doses provided by the American people.

The United States is working closely with Philippine stakeholders throughout the pandemic to protect public health and support the local response to COVID-19. To date, total U.S. government COVID-19 assistance to the Philippines amounts to over Php1.9 billion ($39 million). ### (US Embassy Information Office Public Affairs Section)

TUGADE: ZAMBOANGA AIRPORT TO EXPAND FLIGHT ROUTES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

ZAMBOANGA CITY – After getting a major face lift with the completion of its development projects, a revitalized and upgraded Zamboanga International Airport (ZIA) will soon expand its flight routes to and from Southeast Asian destinations, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade revealed here. Tugade approved the flight expansion on the occasion of the inauguration Tuesday of Php74.6-million upgrade terminal upgrade which could now accommodate 500 to 800 outgoing passengers. “The expansion of flight is to give depth and meaning of this airport development,” Tugade told newsmen here. Tugade approved the flight expansion on the spot after the meeting between the Philippine Air Line (PAL) executives, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Department of Tourism and the local governments finalized the mechanics for the route operation. The airport may start international flight expansion and kick-off its international operations with the approval of Zamboanga-Kuala Lumpur flights by its Malaysian counterpart, Tugade said. “Zamboanga International Airport is ready for international operations. It has long been prepared for this. The airport can start international operations through the Zamboanga-Manila-Kota Kinabalu route. But we have to wait for our Malaysian counterpart for the Zamboanga-Kota Kinabalu flight,” Tugade said. Tugade added that once PAL submits its proposal for an international flight accommodation with other Southeast Asian nations, the country’s flag carrier may soon start its day operations at the airport. PAL Senior Assistant Vice President for Philippine Sales Harry Inoferio, in a statement provided for the DOTr, said international flight destinations include Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Jakarta, Indonesia; Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam; and Bangkok, Thailand. Inoferio said once quarantine restrictions in the Philippines and other countries are eased, the country’s flag carrier will start accommodating international flights in the fourth quarter of 2022. Tugade also announced the construction of the Php280-million second runway of the Zamboanga International Airport, apron and taxiway. Tugade added that Zamboanga International Airport is already primed to accommodate international tourists, which will lift Zamboanga City’s commercial, tourism and economic status. ###